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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Publication Preview: Published January 17, 2008

American Journal of Neuroradiology 2008;29:501.

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American Journal of Neuroradiology
DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A0850

BRAIN

Altered Diffusion in the Frontal Lobe in Parkinson Disease

A.T. Karagulle Kendi, S. Lehericy, M. Luciana, K. Ugurbil and P. Tuite

From the Department of Radiology (A.T.K.K., K.U.), Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn; Center for NeuroImaging Research (S.L.), INSERM U610, Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France; and Departments of Psychology (M.L.) and Neurology (P.T.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.

Please address correspondence to Paul Tuite, MD, MMC 295, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455; e-mail: tuite002{at}umn.edu

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Parkinson disease (PD) is characterized by basal ganglia abnormalities. However, there are neurodegenerative changes in PD that extend beyond the basal ganglia and that are not sufficiently evaluated with standard MR imaging. The aim of this study was to characterize whole-brain gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) changes in PD by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen control and 12 subjects with nondemented PD were examined by using DTI and 3D anatomic T1-weighted images. Statistical parametric mapping analyses of DTI and anatomic images were performed. Patients were evaluated with a variety of neurocognitive measures and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) OFF (cessation of medication) and ON (taking medications as normal) their antiparkinsonian medications.

RESULTS: The PD participants had dopa-responsive features as ascertained by the UPDRS OFF versus ON medications and had no cognitive impairment. Decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) was observed in subjects with PD bilaterally in the frontal lobes, including the supplementary motor area, the presupplementary motor area, and the cingulum. There were no significant differences in mean diffusivity or GM/WM attenuation between PD subjects and controls.

CONCLUSION: Statistical parametric mapping analysis of DTI showed changes in FA in frontal areas without volume loss. These results confirm that the neurodegenerative process extends beyond the basal ganglia in PD.